Quality standard
Quality statement 6: Primary PCI for acute STEMI
Quality statement 6: Primary PCI for acute STEMI
Quality statement
Adults with acute ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who present within 12 hours of onset of symptoms have primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), as the preferred coronary reperfusion strategy, as soon as possible but within 120 minutes of the time when fibrinolysis could have been given.
Rationale
Primary PCI is a form of reperfusion therapy which should be done as soon as possible. This is because heart muscle starts to be lost once a coronary artery is blocked and the sooner reperfusion therapy is delivered the better the outcome for the patient. If too much time elapses the benefits of primary PCI may be lost. Because of the difficulty in timely delivery, in some areas primary PCI is no longer the preferred coronary reperfusion strategy over fibrinolysis. However, when performed early, primary PCI is more effective. To ensure the best outcomes for adults with STEMI, the ambulance service and hospitals delivering primary PCI should work together to minimise delays in treatment.
Quality measures
The following measures can be used to assess the quality of care or service provision specified in the statement. They are examples of how the statement can be measured, and can be adapted and used flexibly.
Structure
a) Evidence of local arrangements to ensure that adults with acute STEMI who present within 12 hours of onset of symptoms have primary PCI, as the preferred coronary reperfusion strategy, within 120 minutes of the time when fibrinolysis could have been given.
Data source: Local data collection.
b) Evidence of local arrangements to ensure that adults with acute STEMI have access to primary PCI 24 hours a day.
Data source: Local data collection.
c) Evidence that commissioners with their services providers have developed a single care pathway for coronary reperfusion.
Data source: Local data collection.
Process
a) Proportion of adults with acute STEMI who present within 12 hours of onset of symptoms who receive primary PCI within 120 minutes of when fibrinolysis could have been given.
Numerator – the number in the denominator receiving primary PCI within 120 minutes of when fibrinolysis could have been given.
Denominator – the number of adults with acute STEMI who present within 12 hours of onset of symptoms.
Data source: Local data collection. Some fields on time to primary PCI collected in the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership's Myocardial Ischaemia National Audit Project (MINAP) and the British Cardiovascular Intervention Society's National audit of percutaneous coronary interventional procedures.
b) Proportion of adults with acute STEMI who present within 12 hours of onset of symptoms who receive primary PCI within 150 minutes of the call for professional help.
Numerator – the number of people in the denominator receiving primary PCI within 150 minutes of the call for professional help.
Denominator – the number of adults with acute STEMI who present within 12 hours of onset of symptoms.
Data source: Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership's Myocardial Ischaemia National Audit Project (MINAP) and the British Cardiovascular Intervention Society's National audit of percutaneous coronary interventional procedures collect data on the time to primary PCI.
Outcome
Incidence of cardiovascular events.
Data source: Local data collection.
What the quality statement means for different audiences
Service providers (ambulance services, accident and emergency service provider and cardiac service providers) ensure that local pathways and transfer protocols are in place for adults with acute STEMI who present within 12 hours of the onset of symptoms to be offered primary PCI, as the preferred coronary reperfusion strategy, as soon as possible but within 120 minutes of when fibrinolysis could have been given.
Healthcare professionals ensure that they offer primary PCI, as the preferred coronary reperfusion strategy, as soon as possible but within 120 minutes of when fibrinolysis could have been given to adults with acute STEMI who present within 12 hours of the onset of symptoms.
Commissioners ensure that they commission services that have the capacity and expertise to provide primary PCI, as the preferred coronary reperfusion strategy, as soon as possible but within 120 minutes of when fibrinolysis could have been given (and at any time of the day or night, including weekends) to adults with acute STEMI who present within 12 hours of onset of symptoms. Commissioners should work with their service providers to develop a single care pathway for coronary reperfusion.
Adults with a type of heart attack called STEMI whose symptoms started no more than 12 hours before first contacting a healthcare professional are offered a procedure to improve blood flow to the heart (called percutaneous coronary intervention or PCI). They should be able to have this as soon as possible, but within 120 minutes of when they could have received fibrinolysis (a 'clot-busting' drug).
Source guidance
Acute coronary syndromes. NICE guideline NG185 (2020), recommendations 1.1.3 and 1.1.6
Definitions of terms used in this quality statement
As soon as possible
Local areas should collaborate with healthcare professionals to determine the appropriate timeframes for patients. [Expert opinion]